Andrew Hook Centre for American Studies

Ken Burns at the University of Glasgow 17-20 April 1999

In April 1999 Ken Burns, the man hailed by The New York Times as "the most accomplished documentary filmmaker of his generation," made his first ever visit to Scotland, where he spent four days as the guest of the Andrew Hook Centre for American Studies.

While at Glasgow Ken and his daughter Lilly travelled with the Director of the Andrew Hook Centre to Alloway and to Edinburgh, and they were the guests of honour at a banquet held in the Principal's Lodgings.

Meeting and talking with students was the focal point of Ken's visit, and he held an informal seminar with American Studies postgraduate students, and a second with undergraduates taking courses in American History and in Film Studies. The academic portion of Ken's visit ended with his lecture 'Sharing the American Experience.'

This was an extremely well attended event, and in an engaging and insightful presentation Ken examined the ways in which his work has grappled with the overarching question of 'who are we as Americans?'